Official: Alexander Rossi new reserve driver at Marussia F1
Released by Caterham F1 just after the change of ownership, American driver Alexander Rossi found refuge with Marussia. This announcement was made on the sidelines of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Alexander Rossi, the only American driver in the paddock, has been appointed reserve driver for the Marussia F1 team. He previously held this position for Caterham F1 but experienced the ownership change. He is pleased with his new status and the timing of the announcement: « Since my first discussions with the management of the Marussia F1 team, I have felt at home. I look forward to working with the team in Hungary and for the rest of the season. It’s the perfect time for my appointment, especially just before the summer break. »
Rossi also stated that he should ride some Friday mornings during this second part of the season. It is more than likely that he will participate in Free Practice 1 on Friday morning of the United States Grand Prix in Austin. But not only that, as according to *Autosport*, he is expected to appear 4 times for the rest of the season.
The Russian team has not yet confirmed the agenda for their official appearances, preferring to focus on working with the engineers: « He is a proven talent we have observed in GP2, and we have also been impressed by his performances during the Friday morning free practice sessions over the past two seasons. The United States is an exciting market for the sport, and Alexander has a lot of support there. The goal is to develop new connections with the American audience. He will be an integral part of the team, immersing himself in our engineering activities to be fully prepared to step in, if necessary, for one of the race drivers, » said John Booth.
Rossi pays tribute to his new employer: « Marussia is an exciting team at the moment, the team is progressing in everyone’s eyes. I am delighted to have the chance to be part of this adventure, to progress and to play a useful role in the development of the team ».
Alexander Rossi is currently 12th in the GP2 championship: he was racing for Caterham but was asked to leave the team. He has been replaced in this category by the Frenchman Tom Dillman. The American managed to secure a seat with the Campos team.
